Penn State players rush to defend trainer

Gettysburg High School graduate Tim Bream drew more attention on one day this week than he did during his entire first season in Penn State's training room.

But in the days since a Sports Illustrated article raised concerns about his practices, Nittany Lions players rushed to their head athletic trainer's defense.

West Scranton grad and Nittany Lions tackle Eric Shrive said he was not allowed to comment on any facet of the Sports Illustrated article, but he referred The Times-Tribune to a statement he made on his Twitter account regarding his relationship with Bream.

"Tim Bream is one of the best athletic trainers in college football," Shrive wrote. "I feel safer than ever as a player with him on our sidelines."

The Sports Illustrated article cited several sources who allege Bream performed practices normally reserved for doctors, and added that he asked doctors to refrain from talking to players' parents.

Specifically, the sources quoted in the article indicated that Bream administered prescription drugs - the anti-inflammatory Voltaren and irritable bowl syndrome combatant Bentyl - improperly and/or without the approval of a physician. SI reported that he also used an X-ray machine, gave an inhaler to a player not diagnosed with asthma and lanced a boil on a player's neck - without proper licensing or certification.

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As it did with the article as a whole, Penn State strongly supported Bream. The university said an investigation by an independent law firm, which interviewed Bream and supervisory trainers, found "no credible or substantial evidence to support the allegations or rumors, and there was no wrongdoing or violation of any professional standards."

"Mr. Bream is a respected and dedicated professional who provides care to hundreds of our student athletes," the statement added.

Joining Shrive, a handful of players took to Twitter to support Bream.

Redshirt freshman running back Akeel Lynch called Bream an "excellent" trainer and said it is an "honor and privilege" to have him on the staff at Penn State. Guard John Urschel called Bream "the best at what he does," and redshirt freshman defensive end Evan Schwan said he feels "confident" knowing Bream is there to train him.

"Tim Bream is a professional and has never done anything outside his limitations," senior linebacker Glenn Carson wrote. "He is the BEST. And is a crucial part of our family."

But the most telling tweet about Bream may have come from former walk-on receiver Garrett Lerner.

Lerner is the player quoted in the article who suffered two burns on his right leg when Bream allegedly misused an electric stimulation machine while trying to treat another injury.

"All I'm going to say is that Tim Bream is a great trainer, and great guy, and shouldn't be thought of as anything less," Lerner tweeted.

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien addressed the Lerner situation during a press conference Wednesday, saying the player was indeed burned by the muscle stimulation machine.

But O'Brien also defended both the manner of treatment and the fact that Lerner was treated properly after the injury.

"We treated Garrett Lerner," O'Brien said. "I believe that Garrett Lerner believes in the fact that we treated him well at Penn State. I'm not a doctor, so I can't get into the specifics. I just know that Garrett Lerner is a fantastic kid that believes in the way he was treated here at Penn State."